Why Harvard University?
Harvard Law School is the oldest continuously operating law school in the United States, known for its unparalleled breadth of curriculum, world-renowned faculty, and extensive clinical opportunities.
Harvard University is a highly selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 10.1%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.96 GPA and 174 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.89–4.00 GPA and 170–176 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 564 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in New York, Washington, DC, and California — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, Harvard University admitted 37 transfer students into the 2L class, with a median 1L GPA of 3.90 (25th–75th percentile: 3.86–4.00). 2 1Ls transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #6
- Median GPA
- 3.96
- 25th–75th: 3.89–4.00
- Median LSAT
- 174
- 25th–75th: 170–176
- Acceptance rate
- 10.1%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 564
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 37
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students Harvard University admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- 3.86
- Bottom quartile
- Median
- 3.90
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- 4.00
- Top quartile
2 1Ls transferred out of Harvard University in the same cycle — context for how portable Harvard University's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1New York
- 2Washington, DC
- 3California
Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.
Signature clinics
Clinical programs that define Harvard University's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Harvard University" essay where they align with your interests.
- Family Justice ClinicProvides legal services to low-income clients in family law and domestic violence matters.
- Consumer Protection ClinicOffers legal assistance to low-income clients facing consumer issues.
- LGBTQ+ Advocacy ClinicFocuses on legal advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community.
- Election Law ClinicEngages in litigation and advocacy work across various election law areas, including redistricting and voter suppression.
- Cyberlaw ClinicWorks on issues at the intersection of law, technology, and society.
- International Human Rights ClinicProvides students with hands-on experience in international human rights advocacy.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Harvard Law Review— General legal scholarship, publishing monthly from November through June.
- Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy— Leading forum for conservative and libertarian legal scholarship.
- Harvard International Law Journal— Publishes articles and comments in international, comparative, and foreign law.
- Harvard Journal of Law & Gender— Devoted to developing and advancing feminist jurisprudence.
- Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review— Focuses on civil rights and civil liberties issues.
Faculty highlights
Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.
- Stephen BreyerFormer Supreme Court Justice, Constitutional Law
- Nikolas BowieConstitutional Law, Legal History
- Anna LvovskyCriminal Law and Procedure, Legal History
- Jared ElliasCorporate Bankruptcy Law
- Larry SchwartztolVoting Rights, Democracy Reform
- William AlfordChinese Law and Legal History, Comparative Law
- Antony AnghiePublic International Law, History and Theory of International Law
- Christine DesanCivil Procedure, Constitutional History
- Sheila HeenLeadership, Negotiation
- Scott A. WestfahlLeadership, Professional Development
What makes Harvard University distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Oldest continuously operating law school in the United States.
- ·Home to the world's largest academic law library.
- ·Offers extensive joint degree programs, including J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.P.P., J.D./Ph.D., and a J.D./LL.M. with Cambridge University.
- ·Provides a curriculum of unparalleled breadth with over 500 courses, seminars, and reading groups.
- ·Houses over 30 research programs and centers, such as the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society.
- ·Pioneered the case method of teaching law, now the dominant pedagogical model in U.S. law schools.
Using this for your "Why Harvard University" essay
Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.
Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.
Frequently asked about Harvard University
What is the median GPA and LSAT at Harvard University?▾
Harvard University's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.96 and a median LSAT of 174. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.89–4.00 GPA and 170–176 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is Harvard University's acceptance rate?▾
Harvard University's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 10.1%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does Harvard University offer?▾
Harvard University's notable clinical programs include: Family Justice Clinic, Consumer Protection Clinic, LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic, Election Law Clinic, Cyberlaw Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does Harvard University publish?▾
Harvard University's notable student-edited journals include: Harvard Law Review, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, Harvard International Law Journal, Harvard Journal of Law & Gender, Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review.
Where do Harvard University graduates work?▾
Harvard University graduates concentrate employment in New York, Washington, DC, California, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does Harvard University admit?▾
Harvard University admitted 37 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, with a median 1L GPA of 3.90.
Schools similar to Harvard University
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
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